Syringe unit



March 12, 1957 C, R. BROMAN SYRINGE UNIT Filed March 31, 1955 (was R BRoMA/v INVENTORi.

BY ym w SYRENGE UNIT Cyrus R. Broman, Evanston, 111., assignor to Baxter Laboratories, Inc.

Application March 31, 1955, Serial No. 498,219

Claims. 01. 128-227) This invention relates to a syringe unit and, more particularly, to a disposable enema device. By a disposable enema device I refer to a unitary structure, generally constructed of plastic and including a container for the enema fluid, to which is attached dis-1 charge tubing terminating in an orifice or nozzle insert' member and provided with a removable cap. Those disposable syringe devices currently on the market lack a compact, easily useful form. If the discharge tubing is short and rigid, the device is awkward to handle, espe-, cially when one considers that the tip closure or cap must, first be removed. There is always the chance that the liquid contents may be spilled, necessitating an undesir able cleaning chore. l

Those devices provided with substantial lengths of dis charge tubing which is generally of a flexible nature, are likewise subject to the disadvantage of possible spillage,. since in them, too, the tip closure must first be removed; In addition, these latter devices lack a compact form because of the length of the discharge tubing.

The laboriousness of the entire procedure of using the currently available devices becomes apparent when it is understood that the tip usually must be provided with a lubricant to facilitate insertion of the tip into the body.

By incorporating, a lubricant-containing pocket in the flexible, disposable enema container of my invention, which pocket can at the same time receive and protect the syringe nozzle, I have substantially eliminated the above-described difficulties. By the further expedient of incorporating a simple, inexpensive valve in the discharge portion of my syringe unit, I have effectively minimized any danger of loss of liquid contents through failure of the nozzle closure-and eliminated thereby the need for cleaning up the lost liquid.

It is an object of our invention to provide a compact syringe unit adapted to store a medical solution which can be readily dispersed into the body. Another object is to provide a disposable enema device constructed of plastic material and adapted to be stored in a compact form until use. 1

Another object is to provide a compact disposable syringe device, wherein the container portion is provided with an integral pocket suitable for both mounting and covering the nozzle portion of the syringe.

Yet another object is to provide a syringe unit incorporating a nozzle lubricant so as to render the device ready for immediate use. A still further object is to provide a disposable syringe unit incorporating a filling and dispensing valve. Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear as this specification proceeds.

My invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is for a perspective view of the disposable bag of our invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partially in section, of our disposable enema bag with the various elements thereof shown in exploded form as would be the case prior to assembly; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the assembled valve portion of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing and, in particular, Fig. 1, the" disposable enema bag of my invention is generally designated 10. Essentially, bag is a unitary article made up of plastic container 11 adapted to discharge its contents through flexible tubing 12, which terminates in nozzle 13. The arrangement of these three elements can better be appreciated by consideration of Fig. 2 which shows these elements in an exploded form, as they would be prior to their assembly.

In Fig. 2, numeral 11 again denotes the container portion of our disposable enema bag. Container 11 is essentially rectangular in form, and includes two sheets of plastic material in face-to-face relation and heat-sealed about their mutual edges as indicated at 14. An additional heat seal is provided parallel to one edge as at 15,

. in order to provide a slot or pocket 16 for receiving nozzle 13.

A preferred material of construction for container 11 consists of a 2 mil thickness of vinyl-vinyldene chloride, generally known as saran, laminated to a 3 mil thickness of polyvinyl chloride resin base material, with the vinyl laminate internal to container 11. The vinyl portion of the sheet lends it strength, while the saran portion provides suitable resistance to moisture vapor transfer, which would occur through the vinyl thickness if used by itself. The form of container 11 shown in Fig. 2 is produced by a single heat-sealing operation on a pair of large sheets of laminated plastic. A number of such heatsealed containers can be produced from a single sheetthe containers being readily separated from the sheets along the edge of heat seal 14. To facilitate this ready removal along a seam, as by ripping, l have provided protrusions 17 and 18 along the edge and over the openings to pocket 16 and container 11. These protrusions are intended to be removed prior to assembly. Protrusion 17, when removed, provides access to pocket 16 for the receipt of nozzle 13, and the opening created by the removal of protrusion 18 provides an avenuefor connecting the end of flexible tubing 12, opposite the end connected to nozzle 13, to container 11.

Secured as by heat-sealing in the opening on container 11, designated 18a, which is created by the removal of protrusion 18, is valve structure 19, which is shown in enlarged, cross sectional form in Fig. 3. Valve structure 19 includes a plastic sleeve 20 secured at one end to the inner wall of container 11 about the periphery of opening 18a. The free end of plastic sleeve 20 is closed as by heat-sealing, except for a small vent passage 21 extending therethrough, which permits displacement of the liquid in sleeve 20 during operation of the valve structure contained therein.

Movably mounted within sleeve 20 is glass bead 22, which serves as a valve for the fiow of liquid from container 11 through sleeve 20 into tubing; 12. Permitting liquid to enter sleeve 20 from container 11 are openings 23, provided in the side wall of sleeve 20. Openings 23 are of such a size as to prevent inadvertent escape of glass bead 22 therethrough. Glass bead 22 is also somewhat larger in diameter than the bore of sleeve 20 to'prevent inadvertent dislodgment. However, to promote the easy movement of head 22 in sleeve 20 when desired, I provide a small amount of lubricant on the internal wall of sleeve 20.

In order to facilitate removal of nozzle 13 from pocket 16, as shown in Fig. 1, I provide a lubricant, such as pe troleum jelly or the like, which is also useful in aiding the insertion of nozzle 13 into a body orifice.

Manufacture After container 11 has been provided in its die cut and sealed form, as shown in Fig. 2, protrusions 17 and 18 are removed as by cutting along dotted lines 17'17' and 18'18. Valve structure 19 is then heated-sealed in opening 18a, provided by the removal of protrusion 18. Container 11 is then filled with, a suitable medicinal fluid, such as a phosphate. solution, considereduseful,for-enema usage. To achieve this filling operation, glass head 23. is moved to the inwardly extending. end of sleeve 20, as indicated at22 and in dotted line. After. filling, .bead.22 is moved to the position delineated in heavy line in Fig. 3. The free. end of tubing 12 is then secured as by solvent-sealing in sleeve 20, as shown in Fig. 3, and nozzle 13, which has been secured tov one end of, tubing 12, is then coated with a lubricant and inserted into pocket 71 6. 7

pera i n When the enema solution is desired to be .used, nozzle 13, is removel from. pocket 16 and inserted into .body, the insertion being facilitated by-the lubricant provided there on,- as mentioned above. Bead 22 is then moved to the position designated 22' in Fig. 3, thereby opening the liquid conduit. Movement of bead 22 from one position to another is achieved, by manipulating the flexible sleeve 20 through manual pressure on the outside of con tainer 11 to press the bead from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines. As set forth above, the respective sizes of bead. 22 and the bore of sleeve 20 are so related as toprevent such movement except by the application of manual pressure. Thus, simply shaking the structure would not force bead 22 into the position designated 22.

It is to be noted that there is no insertion of a nozzle communicating with an unobstructed liquid as is the case with conventional disposable enema devices. The solution in container 11 is then administered by compressing container 11, which can be conveniently accomplished because the length of tubing 12 permits easy manipulation of container llaway from the site of administration.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for purposes of illustration only, and no limitations are to be inferred therefrom.

I claim:

1. A disposable enema unit comprising a closed bag constructed of a plastic material and adapted to contain a liquid, tube constructed of a plastic material and communicating with the interior of said bag and having a free end terminating in a nozzle, a manually-operable valve operatively associated with the communicating end of said tube; said bag being provided with an integral pocket of a size and shape adapted to receive said nozzle in liquidtight relation.

2. A disposable enema unit comprising a substantially fiat, 4-sided, compartmented bag formed by heat-sealing together in face-to-face relation two sheets of thermoplastic material along the sides thereof and along a parallel line spaced from one of said sides whereby said bag is provided with a major and a' minor compartment, a pair of access openings provided in one of said sides communicating respectively with said major and said minor compartments, one end of a flexible tube secured to said bag and communicating with said major compartment, 21 manually-operable valve associated with the communicating end of said flexible tubing, the other end of said flexible tubing terminating in an insert nozzle, said insert nozzle being removably inserted into said minor compartment in liquid-tight relation thereto.

3. An enema unit of the character set. forth in claim 2 wherein each of said thermoplastic sheets is a laminate comprising a first thermoplastic material substantially re,- sistant to vapor transmission and a second; thermoplastic material substantially more resistant to 'rupture'than said first thermoplastic material. i'

4. A syringe unit, comprising a flexible bag adapted to contain liquid having at least one opening therein, a flexible tube extending through said opening and secured in liquid-tight relation with thewalls of the'bag, said tube having an inlet opening at an intermediate point, and a valve member rnanipula'table from without said bag to positions on either side of said inlet opening to close or open said tube with respect to the fiowof liquid. 5 An enema unit, comprising a closed flexible bag adapted to contain a liquidfand having at least one open ing therein, a flexible tube extending into the interior of the bag through said opening and having a free end terminating in a nozzle, staid ,bag being sealed about said tube in liquid-tight relation, said tube having a valvecontrolled opening communicating with the interior of said bag and said valve being manipulatable from outside the'bag to open and closed position.

Schnabel Nov. 19, 1940 ar ":rrff t' -f' -fff .8 

